Girl Found 12 Years After She Was Kidnapped By Her Mum

A four-year-old girl who was abducted by her mother from Texas 12 years ago has been found in Mexico.

Sabrina Allen was discovered living in Papalotla, Tlaxcala, near Mexico City, with her mum, Dara Llorens, who is facing a charge of aggravated kidnapping in the US.

Ms Llorens allegedly failed to return Sabrina - who is now 17 - to her father Gregory Allen's custody after an unsupervised weekend visit in 2002.

Mum and daughter have now been flown to Texas where Sabrina is having counselling.

Mr Allen, who had primary custody of his daughter following his divorce, said that the girl had been told that he was a wife beater and child molester.

He said that when he met her he was 'going to ask her if I can give her a hug'.

He said: "She's in pretty bad shape as far as my understanding... She was not living a regular life. She has not been going to school. It was a big relief... now we get to start the healing process."

The FBI said Ms Llorens, 44, and Sabrina had assumed new identities and moved frequently to evade capture. It was unclear how long they had been in Mexico.

Mr Allen said the authorities were tipped off by a confidential informant.

Private investigators Klein Investigations & Consulting, which was involved in the hunt for Sabrina, told USA Today that when the mother and daughter were found on Tuesday there was a struggle during which a Mexican police officer sustained a minor injury.

In an emotional video on his GoFundMe page, Mr Allen said Sabrina and her mother were found using fake names in a small town in Mexico.

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He explained that Sabrina was still dyeing her hair - as her mother had done when she was a child - when she was found.

He said: 'She was not in school and her education is reportedly several years behind.

"She was effectively a prisoner in a two-bedroom apartment."

He added that his ex-wife had told their daughter that he didn't want her and that he had committed suicide.

The girl had also been told her paternal grandparents were dead, he said. Mr Allen added that he was 'overjoyed' that she has been found alive and safe.

He said: "Our entire family would like to thank the investigators that made this happen. Our prayers go out to the Mexican Federal Police Officer who was injured.

"We also would like to thank the Mexican Government for their cooperation in this case.

"Last, a heartfelt thank you to the USFBI, US Marshals, and all of the investigators that have worked this case for the last 12 years. They never gave up. We look forward to being reunited very soon."

Sabrina was listed as missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

In March, her dad, who has three other children, vowed never to give up looking for his daughter.

He said at the time: "I want to find her. I want to see her again. She needs to know she has a family that loves her. I can't just give up on her."